Associate vice chancellor named to American Medical Association Board of Trustees
LAWRENCE — Julie Goonewardene, associate vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Kansas, has been elected to the American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees as its designated public member.
As a trustee, Goonewardene will help guide the overall direction of the AMA, the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States, in its mission to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.
The AMA Board of Trustees comprises 21 members, including designated positions for a public member, young physician, resident physician and a medical student. Goonewardene is the third person to hold the public member position since its creation in 2001.
“It’s an honor to be named to the AMA’s Board of Trustees,” said Goonewardene, who begins her four-year term in June 2012. “I look forward to supporting physicians and patients as we work on our nation's health care challenges, as well as promoting KU’s incredible health care assets to partners nationwide.”
Goonewardene succeeds Christopher Kay, who has served on the board since 2008.
“Julie’s appointment to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees speaks volumes of her reputation among her peers,” said KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. “Not only will Julie contribute to the AMA’s mission, but she’ll also be an ambassador for KU and help connect our researchers and health care practitioners with opportunities nationwide. This will benefit her efforts to drive innovation, job creation and the commercialization of research here at KU.”
The AMA was founded in 1847 and is the nation’s largest association of medical doctors and medical students, with approximately 215,000 members. It is headquartered in Chicago and publishes the weekly Journal of the American Medical Association, the most widely circulated medical journal in the world.
“Ms. Goonewardene is a motivated, innovative and creative professional who brings together groups across the healthcare spectrum to develop new solutions to existing medical issues,” said AMA Chair Robert Wah, M.D. “Her experience and enthusiasm will play an important role in fulfilling the AMA's mission to help physicians help patients.”
Goonewardene brings 28 years of experience in higher education and technology, including experience transitioning medical innovations to the marketplace. In addition to her role as associate vice chancellor at KU, she is also president of the University of Kansas Center for Technology Commercialization and a professor of practice in the KU School of Business. She oversees and manages commercialization, ventures and industry outreach for the entire university, including the School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kan.
Prior to her work at KU, Goonewardene was the director of business development for Purdue Research Foundation & Discovery Park at Purdue University. One of her major successes at Purdue was the formation of their first philanthropic venture capital fund. She also led business formation based on intellectual property for Purdue University, including Discovery Park, a $400 million multidisciplinary research center.
Goonewardene previously worked in technology consulting and strategy. She graduated with honors from Purdue University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in general management. She later received a Master of Science in health communication from the same institution.